BEIJING, (Reuters) – The dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, whose detention in April ignited an international uproar, was released on bail today, state media and his sister said.
China’s official Xinhua news agency said the artist was freed “because of his good attitude in confessing his crimes as well as a chronic disease he suffers from”.
A company that police said Ai controlled “was found to have evaded a huge amount of taxes and intentionally destroyed accounting documents,” police said, according to Xinhua.
“The decision comes also in consideration of the fact that Ai has repeatedly said he is willing to pay the taxes he evaded,” said the report.
China’s courts and police are controlled by the ruling Communist Party and it is unusual, but not unprecedented, for authorities to back away from a potential prosecution in a high-profile case like this.
Ai’s sister, Gao Ge, confirmed his release.